Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-08-05
A BEAUTY'S CHOICE.
BY MARTHA DALZELL.

ga Queen of Hearts," Such was the
name the admirers of Estelle Glyndon had
given TO her, and, petted and praised for
her grace and beauty as she had always
been, it was hardly to be wondered at that
conviction that not for her were the trials
of life.
Deep down in the girlish heart slumbered
many noble impulses; but on the surface
the rank plant of worldly pride had taken
root.
AS she stands now, beneath the shade of
the old oak which guards her favorite seat,
the most casual observer could not help but
pronounce her rarely beautiful. The
breeze is lifting gently the dark locks from
the blue-veined temples, and its rude
cheek a delicate peach-bloom. But the
lovely mouth is marred by naughty ex-
preston, as with averted head she listens
coldly TO the young man by her side.
1t is Douglas Macdonald, and in earnest
tones he is speaking thus: "Oh, Estelle,
can it be that I have deceived myself in
thinking that you cared for me? And all
this summer, in which l have been so
foolishly happy, have you only been play
ing with me? 1t cannot be true; you can
not be SO heartless! / have been told that
has superseded me; but l said that until
you confirmed it with yonr own lips would
not believe it. Oh, my darling, whom I
love more than life, do not be SO cold!
Look up, Estelle, and tell NE it is false."
He had been growing more imprisoned
as he went on, and now he seized her
hand.
At his touch IL strange thrill shot through
Estelle's heart, and suddenly q mask
seemed to fall before her eyes. In that
moment she knew that she loved this man
thus pleading before her.
Estelle hesitated. Only the previous
day another had laid his heart Mt her feet
and with it the richest fortune in all the
country round.
She had not given her answer; but in her
young heart pride was very st1ong, and she
felt that to be mistress of The Elms would
be an enviable position.
Then the thought flashed swiftly through
her mind of what her father would say if
she should tell him that, for the sake of
one who, though noble and respected, was
poor, she had refused another who could
keep her i'll the atmosphere of luxury in
which she had been born.
Douglas, eagerly watching her express
i've features, coniectured her thoughts.
IL see!" he exclaimed; cit was true-the
report l heard. You intend to marry
Foster Severne--dissipated man of the
world though he be-simply because he is
sich in this worlds goods!'
The delicate hue on Estelle's countenance
changed to a burning red
"You have no right, MIR. Macdonald, to
speak thus 10 mel"
mo right" he exclaimed; "when l love
you, Estelle, and see you booming yourself
to lifelong unhappiness? Listen" he
rc1,a ok Us ktT
came to-day to ask you a question upon
which great deal depended. Two OPEN
ings are before income TO settle in an
honorable position in my native town; the
other to go abroad, far away to the distant
land of China. You do not love me-mv
.choice is made. This will be my last fare
we'll. o-morrow will see me on my way
to foreign shore"
He grasped her hand, wrung it; then,
without waiting for answering words,
turned and left her. She watched his tall
form till it passed from her sight. Then
suddenly, with lightning flash, the know
ledge Of what she had done came to her,
and she realized that in rejecting Douglas
Macdonalds love she had wrecked beyond
retrieval the happiness of her life.
That evening We see her in the midst of
a fashionable throng. Though the heart
bleed, it must not be Worn on the sleeve for
claws to peck at, and Estelle is outwardly
calm, though one knowing her we'll would
wonder at her strange looks. Her roseate
satin robes sweep in rich, flowing folds
about her graceful figure, rendering even
more exquisitely white the dimpled neck
and arms upon which priceless diamonds
CLEAN and glisten.
AS he looks down OF the woman on his
arm, Foster Severne's heart leaps tri-
umphantly as he thinks how proud he will
be when he can call her his own. AS if by
accident, he leads her to the conservatory,
where, amid the splash of fountains and
the fragrance of flowers, he can speak I'M
disturbedly. There once more he offers
her his hand and his heart-all there is left
of it-and, never doubling what it will be,
awaits his answer.
Not for moment does Estelle waver.
Her reply is uncompromising: "AIr
Severne, I cannot become your wife"
An angry flush springs to the young mans
face.
"Miss Glyndon! you cannot mean what